Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Jefferson Thomas

One of nine students who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957 -- via the New York Times. A brave guy.

David Dortort

Writer for film and TV, and producer whose claim to fame will always be his creation of "Bonanza" -- via the L.A. Times


And hey, remember "The High Chaparral"? He created that, too.

Sam Sittipong Kalayanee

Activist, humanitarian worker, photographer, documentary filmmaker;  most recently involved with the Oscar-nominated film "Burma VJ" -- via the Irrawaddy

Michael Burn

Author and journalist -- via BBC News. He was initially enamored of Nazi Germany, but then became a war hero and survived the infamous Colditz prison. And he later became a left-winger, and came to terms with his bisexuality as well, according to this story in the Telegraph.

Corneille

Painter -- via the New York Times

Glenn Shadix

Character actor best known for his work with Tim Burton -- via the Birmingham News

Clive Donner

Director best known for "The Caretaker," "What's New, Pussycat?" and the George C. Scott "Christmas Carol" -- via the Guardian

Elizabeth Jenkins

Author -- via the Telegraph

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Jim McKeown

Episcopal priest who focused on social issues -- via the Boulder Daily Camera

Noah Howard

Jazz saxophonist -- via allaboutjazz.com. I can't embed a video sample of him at work, but you can find it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N2A1g2du1o.

Oleg Bebenin

Web activist and opposition leader -- via Aljazeera. His supposed suicide is extremely suspicious and it is thought the totalitarian government of Belarus played a role in his death.

Larry Ashmead

A brilliant editor -- via the New York Times. Not only that, but he compiled the hilarious "Bertha Venation and Hundreds of Other Funny Names of Real People"!

Mike Edwards aka Deva Pramada

Cellist and founding member of ELO -- via the Daily Mail

Kihachiro Kawamoto

Animator and puppet maker -- via the Guardian

Shirley Evans

Accordionist -- via the Guardian

Yusof Chong

Malaysian comedian -- via bernama.com

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Paul Conrad

Political cartoonist -- via the New York Times. His brilliance earned him three Pulitzer Prizes.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Bob Schimmel

There is no link to an official announcement as yet. One of the funniest and most honest and uncompromising comedians of my time passed away this evening. One of the risks of keeping memorial sites such as this is -- one day you post someone you knew and admired. God bless you, Bob.
UPDATE: Here's the New York Times story, and Bob's home page. I encourage you to find out more about his work and life there. And buy something! It will help his kids. The best write-up so far is this piece in the L.A. Times.

Vasundhara Patwardhan

Writer - via DNA

Thursday, September 2, 2010

John Louis Mansi

British actor -- via the Guardian. Best known for his supporting roles in films such as "Help!" and "The Italian Job," and TV shows such as "'Allo 'Allo" and "Ripping Yarns."

Shmuel Eisenstadt

Sociologist -- via Yodioth Internet

Vance Bourjaily

Novelist -- via the Iowa City Press-Citizen

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

George Hitchcock

Poet and publisher of the literary magazine 'kayak' -- via the L.A. Times

Cammie King

Child actress who played Bonnie Blue Butler in "Gone With the Wind" -- via the Santa Rosa Press Democrat

Jim MacLaren

An extraordinary athlete -- via Triathlon. A leg amputation did not deter his competitive drive. Another accident left him a paraplegic. He didn't give up!

Dr. William P. Foster

Conductor who revolutionized the art of the marching band -- via the New York Times